HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Bluegrass Splash has passed the first vote to to receive $125,000 from the city’s capital reserve fund to pay for necessary repairs after a close vote by City Council Tuesday night.

The vote came after the cost of the repairs was amended from the Capital Budget Ordinance that was presented Tuesday night. Six of the present councilmembers voted in favor including Councilmember Smiley, Marsh, Craig, Martin, Meek, and Keel. The five who voted against are Councilmember Crabtree, Wilcox, Lienberger, Bell, and Handy. Councilmember Frances abstained from the vote.

Before the vote, Mayor Knight shared that in the future, he hopes a larger budget will be given to Bluegrass Splash that will cover the costs of regular maintenance to help prevent major issues like this. “Just like we do with the fire department or the police department, we have to start putting stuff back for general maintenance,” Knight said.

Public Works Director Mike Perry told the council that an additional $40,000 in their allocated budget would go a long way. Perry also pointed out that the previous administration did not allow the council to vote on funding for the water park, and they were often denied funding requests. Knight is now prioritizing transparency in the water park’s budget.

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Where the money is going

At the previous council meeting, Perry outlined the costs needed for various sections of the park. The list included repairing a 20-foot section of leaking pipe that will cost $33,150. Cracked support brackets on the slides also need to be repaired, and the insides of the slides need to be re-caulked, which adds up to $27,870. An issue in their pump house will cost $17, 590 to fix, and the pumps for the slides need to be rebuilt for $20,000.

These issues, along with in house repairs of small leaks, are estimated to cost a total of $103,610, but they are asking for a contingency, bringing the request to an even $125,000.

The park had to cut their 2023 season short due to the leaking pipe. Perry also shared that last season, the water park attracted 33,000 visitors, 77% of whom were from out of town.

Clarification: The funding passed on the first of two votes. The second vote was Feb. 20. The article has been updated.